The Linemakers

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The Golden State Warriors play at the Phoenix Suns Wednesday at 10:05 p.m. ET. Here is point spread information and analysis from The Linemakers on Sporting News. For updated point spreads, visit our live odds page.

Line: Suns -2.5

Total: 200

The Warriors finished with the Western Conference's third worst record last season at 23-43, but there’s reason for optimism this season. Going 6-2 in the preseason was a nice start, but more than those wins, it’s about the cohesion exhibited by a roster full of unselfish players that has the playoffs looking like a possibility this season.

The Warriors were accused of tanking the 2011-12 season. They traded fan favorite Monta Ellis to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut and proceeded to lose 22 of their final 28 games. But a healthy Bogut is a big part of the reason many think the Warriors will contend for one of the eight West playoff spots this season. He doesn’t necessarily have to be the 15-point, 10-rebound player he was in Milwaukee, but he can be part of an impressive frontline that includes David Lee and rookie Harrison Barnes, who was recently named the starting small forward.

Then, when you mix in Stephen Curry’s all-around abilities that has him on the cusp of being a major star and Klay Thompson’s ability to score, you’ve got a nice nucleus of talent that should be able to contend and put up lots of points.

As with any team, health is always an issue. But it’s of particular concern to the Warriors – Bogut has played in only 58 percent of his teams’ games over the past four seasons, and Curry’s ankle continues to give him problems.

The Suns, Golden State’s opening night opponent, begin life without Steve Nash for the first time in nine years. They finished 4-3 in the preseason and will be led by Goran Dragic, who takes over point-guard duties from Nash.

Offensively, the Suns have major question marks. Michael Beasley and Luis Scola highlight their front-line, and Jared Dudley will be relied upon to bump his scoring average at the shooting-guard position from his career-best 12.7 point per game last season.

The LVH Super Book posted the Warriors season win total at 36.5 and the Suns at 32.

Series trend: Six of the past seven meetings between the Warriors and Suns have stayed UNDER the total.

— LVH assistant manager Jeff Sherman doesn’t think the balance of the West has been changed by the Thunder trading James Harden to the Rockets, but did say the move “incrementally helps the Rockets. We adjusted Houston’s season wins from 29.5 to 32 and lowered the Thunder from 60.5 to 59.5.” No other changes were made due to the trade.

— With the Lakers' 99-91 home loss to the Mavericks Tuesday night as 9-point favorites, they have now lost 11-straight games when including last postseason and this year’s preseason.

—The NBA announced Tuesday that the Thursday night game between the Nets and Knicks at the brand-new Barclays Center in Brooklyn will be played as scheduled, despite the city dealing with the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The league had discussed the possibility of rescheduling, but Mayor Bloomberg gave an endorsement saying he hoped the game would be played and that he planned to go.

—Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire will be out six to eight weeks after re-injuring his left knee -- that's close to 20 games.